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has been imitated by feveral modern Poets; but perhaps by none better than Monfieur Huet, in his Defcription of his Journey to Stockholm, written in Latin Verse.

SANADON.

The above-mentioned Imitation (in English) is here annexed.

1 Aricia.] Aricia, now La Riccia, is fituated on the Appian Way, about twenty Miles from Rome.

2 Forum Appii.] A little Town, about forty fix Miles from Rome.

3 Feronia.] A little Village, within three Miles of Anxur. Near this Place were a Temple, a Grove, and a Fountain, confecrated to juno.

4 Antur.] Anxur, now Terracina, was fituated on a Hill, on the Sea-fide, which reaches from Oftia to Naples.

5 Fundos.] Fundi was twenty Miles from Anxur, famous for its excellent Wine.

6 Prætore ] The Prator was an Officer created to affift the Conful in adminiftering Justice.

7 In Mamurrarum-urbe.] Formia was remarkable for the Birth of Mamurra, one of the richest and most confiderable Men among the Romans. Murana and Capito had

Houles there.

8 Sinuefa.] A City near the River Liris, where now ftands Rocca di Mandragone.

9 Plotius et Varius, &c.] What an agreeable Meeting mult this have been between four Perfons of fuch diftinguished Merit as Virgil, Horace, Ploties, and Varius! Horace never appears in a more amiable Light than when he is fpeaking of his Friends. His Heart, on these Occafions, dilates itself with a Tenderness which fhows his Humanity; and Humanity is infinitely preferable to Wit. It is this, that qualifies us for thofe fweet Connections, which are the Band of Society. SANADON.

10 parochi.] In the first Julian Law was this Article, that the Towns and Villages through which a Roman

Magistrate

Magiftrate paffed, in his Way to the Provinces, fhould be obliged to fupply him and his Retinue with Salt, Wood, Corn, Lodging, and other Conveniencies.

II

Capua.] Capua, the chief City of Campania, built upon the Vulturnus.

12 genus Ofci.] The Ofcians were a People of Campania, of the most infamous Character in all Italy.

13 Beneventum.] A City in the Territory of Naples. 14- -Canufi.] A Town fituated on the Side of a Hill, now called Canofa.

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Rubos.] A fmall Village, eighteen Miles from

16 Bari.] A Town fituated on the Adriatic.

17 -Gnatia.] Or Egnatia, now called Gnazzi, or Nazzi, a Town on the Adriatic, between Barium and Brundufium.

18 Dum flamma fine, &c.]

The Priests at Egnatia exhibited a pretended Miracle. They placed on a Stone, in the Portal of the Temple, fome Grains of Incenfe, or Pieces of Wood, which were immediately confumed, without the Application of Fire. Horace had not Faith enough to believe fuch ridiculous Stories, which were only invented to amufe Fools.

DACIER.

A Miracle of the fame kind is now fuppofed to be wrought at Naples, viz. the Liquefaction of Januarius's Blood at the Approach of the Saint's Head. Mr. Addison. was Witnefs to this pretended Miracle twice; but thought it one of the most bungling Tricks he ever faw. He fays, it feems to be copied from the Miracle here referred to. Dr. Middleton, too, in his Letter from Rome, after quoting Father Mabillon's Opinion about the Manner of performing this Trick, proceeds as follows:

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But by whatever way it is effected, it is plainly nothing else but the Copy of an old Cheat, of the fame kind, tranfacted near the fame Place, which Horace makes himself merry with in his Journey to Brundufium, telling us, that the Priefts would have impofed upon

• him

him and his Friends at a Town called Gnatia, by perfuading them that the Frankincenfe in the Temple • used to diffolve, and melt miraculously of itself, without the help of Fire.' Letter from Rome, p. 209.

The learned Author of the Criterion, speaking of the standing Miracles boafted of by the Papifts, which, he fays, upon Examination, will be found to be mere Legerdemain Tricks, or brought about by a fuperior Acquaintance with the Powers and Properties of material Compofitions, gives us the following Account of the Liquefaction at Naples:

That a Substance vifibly dry and folid, having the Appearance of coagulated Blood, inclofed in a Glafs hermetically fealed, actually doth melt, while held by the Prieft in his Hands, and brought near to the Saint's Head, which is placed on the Altar, is a Fact which Thousands of Spectators are Eye-witneffes of every Year. But, however extraordinary this may feem, to fuppofe, as the Neapolitans do, that there is any Miracle in the Cafe, would be to make the Experiments of the Natural Philofopher, and the Transmutations of the Chemist, deferve that Name; as fome of them are far more furprising than the Liquefaction of this Saint's pretended Blood. The particular natural Caufe is not, indeed, abfolutely agreed upon. Some have imagined that the Heat of the Hands of the Priests, who keep tampering with the Phial of Blood during the • Celebration of Mals, will be fufficient to make it melt. Others, again, have been inclined to believe, that the Liquefaction is effected by the Heat of vaft Numbers of wax Tapers of a most enormous Size, with which the Altar is decked out, many of which are placed fo conveniently, that the Priest can, without any Appearance of Defign, hold the Glafs fo near to them as to make it hot, and confequently difpofe the inclofed Subftance to melt.-I fhould be inclined to fubfcribe to this Opinion, had I not met with a more probable • Solution.

I am informed (for I never tried the Experiment 'myself) that a Compofition of Crocus Martis and Cochineal will perfectly refemble congealed Blood; and by • dropping the smallest Quantity of Aqua fortis among

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this Compofition, its dry Particles will be put into a • Ferment, 'till at laft an Ebullition is excited, and the Subftance becometh liquid.

That a Glafs may be fo contrived as to keep the Aqua for tis feparate from the dry Substance, 'till the critical Moment when the Liquefaction is to be effected, may be easily conceived. And, in fact, the Phial which ⚫ containeth the pretended Blood is fo conftituted. It is fomething like an Hour-glafs, and the dry Substance is lodged in the upper Divifion. Now in the lower Divifion of the Glafs a few Drops of Aqua fortis may be lodged, without furnishing any Sufpicion, as the Colour will prevent its being diftinguithed.

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• All the attendant Circumftances of this bungling Trick (as Mr. Addijon calls it) are perfectly well accounted for, by admitting this Solution. Whenever the Priest would have the Miracle take Effect, he need only invert the Glais, and then the Aqua fortis being uppermost, will drop down upon the dry Subftance, and excite an Ebullition which refembleth melting; and upon re'ftoring the Glafs to its former Pofition, the Spectator will fee the Substance, the Particles of which have been 'feparated by the Aqua for is, drop down to the Bottom of the Glais, in the fame manner that the Sand run• neth through.

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The Ne politans (as fit Subjects to be impofed upon as the moft fervile Bigotry and fuperftitions Credulity can make them) efteem this annual Miracle as a Mark ' of the Protection of Heaven; and whenever the Blood • faileth to melt, a general Panic enfueth.

Now, upon a Suppofition that I have affigned the real Caufe, the Priests can prevent the Success of the Miracle whenever they please; and accordingly we know that they actually do fo, when they have any Profpect of advancing their own Intereft, by infufing a Notion into the Minds of the Neapolitans, that Heaven is angry with their Nation.' Criterion, or Miracles examined, &c. By John Douglas, D. D. p. 243-246. For what follows we are alfo indebted to the fame Author.

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• Whether or no I have fucceeded in pointing out the 'real Caufe of this pretended Miracle, I inult leave to the

'few

few, who have the Honour of tampering with the facred Phial, and of conducting the annual Show: It is enough to the many, if I have affigned a Caufe, which will account for every thing that happens; and that I • have affigned such a Cause, every one may fatisfy him

• felf.

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• When I published my Account of the liquefied Blood, I had not, at that Time, tried the Experiment of the • Crocus Martis and Cochineal; and therefore I could lay lefs Weight on the Solution of the Trick, as mentioned to me by a Friend. But now I can speak from my own Knowledge, and confequently with greater Confidence, fince I have lately mixed up fome Cochineal with a larger Quantity of Crocus Martis, and this constitutes a hard Lump, perfectly refembling coagulated Blood, and which might well bear to be produced on St. Januarius's Altar. Upon dropping fome Aqua fortis on this folid Lump, inftantly there was excited a Fermentation and Bubbling of its Parts, 'till by Degrees the whole Lump 'diffolved, and it became a Liquid of about the Confiftence of thick Blood.-This Experiment I performed (I afk Pardon, I fhould have faid Miracle) in the Prefence of a Phyfician of Learning, who affures me, that • befides Aqua fortis, Spirit of Vitriol, or any other mineral Acid, by being dropped on the coagulated Matter, will produce the defired Effect. But Spirit of Vitriol, which is clear as Water, will deceive the most curious Spectator most effectually; and by the Help of this, and the other Ingredients, any good Proteftant may challenge the Priests of Naples, to try which of them thall 'perform the Miracle most dexterously.'

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19

Credat Judæus Apella, &c. Scaliger, and feveral other Critics, believe that Apella is the proper Name of fome Jew, then well known at Rome; but it feems more natural to derive it from fine pelle, circumcifed. It is well known, that the Heathens often ridiculed the Jews on this Account. Thus our Poet, in the ninth Epistle of this Book, ver. 70.

VOL. III.

D

Vin'

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